Combative Prescott cheers party faithful

John Prescott roused the Labour conference this afternoon telling delegates the party would "take the Tories to the cleaners" at the next election.

The deputy prime minister praised Tony Blair as a "top-ranking" leader respected throughout the world.

He joked about the prime minister's speech to the conference, saying: "It will take sacrifice, effort: yes, blood; yes, tears - and perhaps we won't mention the sweat, Tony "

To laughter from party delegates, he added: "You should worry - he put his arm around me!"

Mr Prescott continued: "Tony has sent his suit to the cleaners. But at the next election we are going to take Mr Hague to the cleaners and win that election."

Despite the leadership's defeat over pensions yesterday, Mr Prescott said much had been achieved during the week. "We've had the odd disagreement this week, but don't lose sight of the huge range of policies we have agreed on this week for people in this country," he said. Laying into the Tories during his knockabout speech, he said: "I call them the Burger Kings of British politics - every minute another whopper."